Device for preventing incrustation of boilers.



No. 635,468. Patented Oct. 24, I899. W. J. FERGUSON. DEVICE FOR PREVENTING INCBUSTATION OF BOILERS.

(Application filed Nov. 80, 1898.) D

(No Model.)

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1 Nrrnn; STATES I FFICE.

PATENT WILLIAM J. FERGUSON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO WILLIAM G. H. STUMP, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING INCRUSTATION OF BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,468, dated October 24, 1899.

4 Application filed November 30, 1898. Serial No. 697,843. (No modeh) To 61/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Preventing the Incrustation of Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for preventing the incrustation of steam-boilers with scale.

The main object of the invention is to construct a receptacle on which the scale will deposit and to provide for producing a galvanic or voltaic action, whereby the scale will be maintained on thereceiver in a heterogeneous or amorphous state.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a suitable device which will accomplish the result described and which will be cheap, simple in construction, and be easily inserted in and removed from the boiler. I

A practical mode of carrying out the invention is hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of part of a boiler and shows an end view of my device resting in this instance on the bottom of the boiler. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view of my device on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a plan and side view of one of the metal plates.

In the drawings, A designates the shell of the boiler containing my improved anti-incrustation device. The device is placed inside the boiler through the ordinary manhole.

The device has a metal base a, preferabl of iron, which is in this instance supported on legs 17 of non-corrosive material, such as brass, which rest, on the bottom of the boiler. I have found in practice that the best results are obtained by raising thebase a several inches from the bottom of the boiler, as thereby the circulation of water in the boiler is not interfered with. The top surface of the base a is preferably made concave to conform somewhat to the circumference of the boiler. A concavo-convex galvanized-iron wire-gauze receptacle or framework 0 rests on the concave top surface of the base, and the curved shape of this receptacle also conforms to the circumference of the boiler-shell. The receptacle c is to serve as a place of deposit for the scale and contains a packing of some fibrous material d, such as hemp. The object of the fibrous material is to provide a seat or resting-place for all particles of dirt or scale that may be attracted or lodged thereon. The fibrous material being soft and light in weight will readily retain such deposit and yet be easy to handle.

On top of the gauze receptacle 0 are metallic plates constituting a voltaic couple, the positive element of which is acted on by the Water. One plate is zinc and the other is copper and on top of the two is a plate g of iron. The top iron strip 9 retains the other strips in position. The three metal plates are provided with bolt-holes h at either end and holes h intermediate. Bolts 2' are passed through the end holes 72, and also through the receptacle 0 and fibrous material 61 and all are secured together by a nutj on the bolts. The metallic plates, scale receptacle, and fibrous material are then secured to the base by bolts 0; entering the intermediate holes.

In practice I may use several of the devices described in one boiler, in which case for convenience in handling I may secure the devices together by a coupling 70.

The operation of the device is simple and is as follows: The Water submerges the device and becoming hot acts on the positive element of the voltaic couple, in this instance the zinc plate, which being coupled with the copper strip or negative element produces a galvanic action adjacent the receptacle and induces the suspended earthy matters and sediment to deposit on the receptacle instead of on the walls of the boiler.

When it becomes necessary to clean the device, it is first removed from the boiler, and then by removing the bolts that secure the plates and receptacle to the base the fibrous material can be removed and replaced by fresh material or a new gauze receptacle be attached.

While I have described and illustrated my device as resting on the bottom of the boilershell, I do not so limit my invention, as in marine boilers the rolling of a vessel may cause the device to shift, which would be objectionable. It is therefore obvious that the device may be suspended in the boiler to hang pendent therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A device for preventing the incrustation of boilers, having in combination a suitable base or bottom; a meshed-wire receiver supported on the said bottom; a packing or filler held by said meshed wire; and a strip of zinc and a strip of copper on top of the meshedwire receiver and secured to the said base or bottom.

2. A device for preventing the incrustation of boilers, having in combination a metal base provided with legs of brass or like non-corrosive metal; a meshed-wire receiver supported on said base; a strip of zinc and a strip of copper resting on the said receiver; and bolts passing through the zinc and copper, the said receiver, and into the base and confining the parts together.

3. A device for preventing the incrustation of boilers, having in combination a metallic frame or receptacle; fibrous material forming a filler for said frame or receptacle metallic plates constituting a voltaic couple and secured to said frame or receptacle, and a weighted base provided with legs which support the receptacle in the boiler in an elevated position.

4. A device for preventing the iucrustation of steam-boilers, havingin combination a concavo-convex Wire-gauze receptacle; metallic strips constituting a voltaic couple secured to said receptacle and a base having a concave upper face to receive the said eoncavoconvex receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

XVILLIAM J. FERGUSON.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, Jr., GEO. KGETHER. 

